Fourteen-year-old Isaac Sanders, of Rathdrum, demonstrates a ballet move on Thursday. He has been recruited by the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow. (SR photo: Kathy Plonka)

Warm boots, a good winter coat, a passport and travel visa – and Russian language lessons. Isaac Sanders is making a list of what he needs in the next few weeks before he departs for Moscow to begin the biggest, most nerve-wracking adventure of his life. Sanders, 14, has been invited to study at the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Academy. And if you haven’t heard of that, think Juilliard or the Royal College of Music, only lots more snow. The terse invitation came by email earlier this month. His mother, Emily, opened it first and let out a scream. Then he read it. “I was just stunned for the next couple of hours,” Sanders said. “I mean, I just couldn’t believe it.” He celebrated by dancing around the living room/Scott Maben, SR. More here.

Question: Do you like to watch ballet?